Derrick Pitts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derrick Pitts
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Oct 2016
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| Born | January 22, 1955 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Alma mater | Germantown Academy St. Lawrence University |
| Awards | Distinguished Alumni Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy Science Communication |
| Institutions | Franklin Institute |
Derrick Pitts, born on January 22, 1955, is an American astronomer and a fantastic science communicator. He loves sharing his passion for space and science with everyone! Since 1978, he has worked at the Franklin Institute. There, he is the main astronomer and leads the Fels Planetarium. You might have seen him on TV or heard him on the radio. He often talks about astronomy and how exciting science can be.
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Derrick Pitts' Early Life and Learning
Derrick Pitts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 22, 1955. When he was a young child, he was super interested in space travel and the stars. He was amazed by how science could help us learn so much about objects far away in space. He realized that by carefully looking at light, we can discover many things, even about distant stars. This made him look "into the sky with a totally different understanding." From 1969 to 1973, he went to Germantown Academy. He was the second African-American student to join the school.
After high school, Pitts went to St. Lawrence University. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in geology.
Working at the Franklin Institute
Derrick Pitts has been a part of the Franklin Institute since he was a college student. He is now the chief astronomer there. He also creates shows for the institute's Fels Planetarium. He is a well-known public face for the institute. His job includes designing and presenting exhibits and programs for visitors. His main goal is to create "content, exhibits, and programs" that make difficult science topics easy to understand for people of all ages.
Derrick Pitts' Thoughts on Science
Pitts believes that "Science is really questioning what you see." He says that "the essence of science is looking. You have to look." He thinks that science is not just found in a planetarium or museum. It is everywhere, just like gravity! He often uses a cool slogan: "Eat, breathe, do science. Sleep later." This shows how much he loves science.
Derrick Pitts in Media and Public
Derrick Pitts has appeared on many TV shows. These include The Colbert Report and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Since 1991, he has co-hosted a weekly radio show called Skytalk. It airs on WHYY-FM in Philadelphia. He also narrated a special concert for "2001: A Space Odyssey." This concert honored astronaut Col. Guion Bluford Jr., who was also from Philadelphia.
Pitts was a science advisor for PBS's "The Great Comet Crash." He was also a guest scientist for "Newton's Apple" and the "science guy" for "Kid's Corner." In January 2022, Pitts started hosting a web series. It's called "A Practical Guide to the Cosmos." He hosts it with actor and TikToker Kalpana Pot. The series explores "exoplanets, galaxies, black holes, and space missions." It also teaches how to spot amazing things in the night sky.
Awards and Recognition for Derrick Pitts
Derrick Pitts has received many awards for his work. He was named a NASA Solar System Ambassador. He also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from La Salle University and Rowan University. He was given the Mayor's Liberty Bell award. He also received the St. Lawrence University Distinguished Alumni Award. Other honors include the G. W. Carver Medal and the Please Touch Museum's "Great Friend To Kids" Award.
In 2004, Science Spectrum Magazine named him one of the "50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science." He was also inducted into the Germantown Historical Society Hall of Fame. In 2011, he received the David Rittenhouse Award from LaSalle University.
Derrick Pitts' Personal Life
Derrick Pitts enjoys singing without instruments, which is called a cappella. In high school, he sang in a barbershop quartet. In college, he enjoyed madrigal singing. As of 2020, he lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Linda.
